Have your say: Time to get real

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Brian Sinclair from Whangarei comments on the systems in place to curb our drinking culture.

Are we to roll over and play dead?

I agree with Dr Peter Rick from the UK with his assessment of the number of liquor outlets and minimum price constraints.

Binge drinking is not attributable to monitored and controlled licensed premises.

Over-the-top consumption is refused at on-site licensed premises as no licensee is going to jeopardise his business. Cheaper liquor at offsite outlets offers no monitoring or control of consumption. Current youth drinking culture opts for getting tanked up at home on cheaper liquor then hitting the town. This is where the problem must be addressed - not closing down our town to civilised patrons and visitors. Do we want a lock-down society?

As for the one-way door system of control, why cannot patrons choose their trolling for empathetic environments, albeit late? One-way doors invites doorway confrontation, beleaguered doormen doing their duty, not through over-indulgence on the part of the would-be patron, but draconian political dictates.

Restrict number of trading hours and pricing for off-licences.

This is the 21st century so let us join it, not deter our visitors.

Get real council and legislators (police included).

Alcohol is a social lubricant not a political football.

Brian Sinclair
Whangarei